CNBC has no plans to back down from hosting future presidential debates.
“Yes,” network spokesperson Brian Steel told TheWrap as to whether the business network will try and host another presidential debate in the future.
“It’s critical that those who seek to be the leader of the free world face substantive, challenging questions on interest rates, social security, the debt limit, student loans and taxes to name a few,” Steel concluded.
CNBC doubling down on future debates comes after it’s been lambasted by the GOP for bias and unfairness, along with many in the media who say the moderators mismanaged the debate.
In response to the criticism, the business network said, “People who want to be President of the United States should be able to answer tough questions.”
The debate’s record ratings are probably making the criticism a little easier to swallow for network honchos. The GOP debate scored 14 million viewers for CNBC, its highest audience ever.
A network insider told TheWrap executives are citing the ratings to boost deflated newsroom morale.